Taraba Debt Not ₦1.2 Trillion, Govt Replies Opposition, Reveals Real Figures Owed

The Taraba State Government has dismissed claims by opposition parties that the state has accumulated a debt burden of over ₦1.2 trillion within three years under the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas.

The state described the allegation as false, misleading and capable of inciting residents against the government.

Naija News reports that the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economy, Sarah Adi, made the position known in a statement on the state’s debt and financing position.

Adi urged politicians and other commentators to verify financial data before presenting such figures to the public, stressing that the ₦1.2 trillion claim did not reflect Taraba’s actual debt stock.

According to the commissioner, data from the Debt Management Office showed that Taraba’s domestic debt stood at approximately ₦85.51 billion as of December 31, 2025.

She said the figure was about ₦2.45bn lower than the domestic debt inherited by the current administration, which stood at approximately ₦87.96bn in the DMO data available immediately before the administration took office.

She said, “The Taraba State Government has taken note of recent public commentary concerning the debt and financing position of the State.

“The Government welcomes legitimate scrutiny of public finances. However, public discussion must distinguish between existing debt, approved facilities, outstanding balances, and financing arrangements that have not yet been drawn down.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the claim that Taraba State currently carries a debt burden of about ₦1.2 trillion does not reflect the State’s debt stock reported in the latest publicly available records of the Debt Management Office.”

The commissioner further stated that the DMO records showed that the state’s domestic debt had reduced rather than increased to the alleged N1.2tn figure.

She said, “According to the Debt Management Office, Taraba State’s reported domestic debt stock was approximately ₦87.96 billion in the DMO data available immediately preceding the present administration.”

Adi maintained that the government was not against scrutiny of its financial records, but insisted that such scrutiny must be based on accurate and verifiable information.

She urged opposition politicians to campaign with facts and figures instead of making claims capable of misleading residents and creating unnecessary tension.

The government also warned that presenting unverified debt figures to the public could create hatred and disbelief against the administration.

It therefore called on political actors to properly distinguish between actual debt obligations, approved credit facilities, outstanding balances and financing arrangements that had not been accessed.

The state government said it remained committed to transparency in the management of public funds and would continue to provide accurate information on Taraba’s financial position whenever necessary.